Two changes Benitez must make to his Newcaste XI when they host Man United

Jacob Murphy for Matt Ritchie

While Ritchie was one of the key players for Newcastle as they won the Championship title last season, he perhaps hasn’t had the impact his manager and the St James’ Park faithful may have expected in the Premier League this season.

The 28-year-old has failed to score and provided six assists in 24 top flight appearances this term, but only two of those have come in the Scotland international’s last 19 outings.

The winger only played 18 minutes of the defeat against Manchester City and the draw against Burnley before he started at Selhurst Park, but while he did ok defensively he once again didn’t do enough in the final third for his team.

When you are playing Man United you need to make the most of the few opportunities you are likely to have, and Murphy certainly showed he has the pace, quality and composure to do that following his brilliant dinked finish against City, and he should start in place of Ritchie on Sunday.